Top New Mexico Democrats target of bomb threats, prompting nearby closures

SANTA FE — Two high-ranking Democratic legislators’ Santa Fe homes were the target of bomb threats on Thursday that prompted the closure of nearby roads and a school.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski both confirmed the threats against them, while thanking state and local law enforcement officials for their quick response.

Neither legislator nor any of their family members were injured, and no arrests were immediately announced Thursday by law enforcement officials.

New Mexico State Police said around 11 a.m. officers responded after receiving a report of a bomb threat toward Wirth, according to a news release from State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver.

State Police and the Santa Fe Police Department’s explosives team searched the area but did not locate any explosives. Roughly one hour later, deputies were sent to Wirth’s law firm after receiving another report of a bomb threat, Silver said. Deputies searched the location but did not locate any explosives.

State Police are investigating the threats and no arrests have been made.

The threats, and subsequent closures, came one day after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, which prompted members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation and other local politicians to express concern on social media about the national political tone.

“These kinds of threats and actions hurt all of us,” Szczepanski said in a statement. “I know it can be shocking to feel this hit so close to home, but at the same time it’s not representative of our incredible Santa Fe community.”

Wirth, who took part in an interim legislative committee on Thursday in Taos, said political violence and threats against elected officials have “no place in our democratic society and are never an acceptable way to address political differences.”

“Regardless of our political views, we must reject intimidation and work together through peaceful, lawful means to resolve our disagreements,” he added.

The bomb threat targeting Wirth’s home prompted a road on Santa Fe’s east side to be closed briefly, according to State Police.

In addition, Santa Fe Prep, a nearby school, was put on lockdown, subsequently evacuated, and classes were canceled for the rest of the day.

“There was no threat against the school in any way, and law enforcement let us know that we had proximity to the threat, but it was not against us,” said Aaron Schubach, head of the private school.

He added that the decision to dismiss classes for the day was made out of an abundance of caution.

“I stand just with everyone, condemning political threats, political violence,” Schubach said. “Absolutely terrible state of affairs.”

The bomb threats against the high-ranking New Mexico Democrats were not the only of their kind to be made on Thursday. The headquarters of the Democratic National Committee was also the target of a threat, found by Capitol Police not to be credible.

Additionally, a number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities were also the subject of violent threats — leading some to cancel classes, lock down or move to remote instruction for the remainder of the day.

New Mexico has not been immune to a recent wave of politically driven violence.

Solomon Peña, who ran unsuccessfully for a state House seat as a Republican in 2022, was sentenced last month to 80 years in prison for orchestrating a string of shootings at Democratic lawmakers’ homes.

In addition, Jamison Wagner of Albuquerque was charged earlier this year with allegedly carrying out arson attacks on the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters and a Tesla dealership.

Journal staff writer Nakayla McClelland contributed to this report. Noah Alcala Bach covers education. You can reach him at nabach@abqjournal.com or (505) 823-3864.